Acquisition Regulation; Department of Energy Management and Operating Contracts

The Department of Energy (DOE) is adopting as final an interim rule amending its Acquisition Regulation to set forth its policy regarding the competition and extension of the Department's management and operating contracts. Under its policy, the Department affirms its commitment to provide for full and open competition in the award of its management and operating contracts, except where the Department determines that competitive procedures should not be used pursuant to one of the circumstances authorized by the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (41 U.S.C. 254), as implemented in Part 6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This rulemaking implements one of the key recommendations of the Department's contract reform initiative to improve its acquisition system.